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Colleen CobleThomas Nelson / 2014 / Trade PaperbackOur Price$15.993.9 out of 5 stars for Butterfly Palace. View reviews of this product. 23 ReviewsAvailability: In StockStock No: WW547835
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ShannahAge: 25-34Gender: female4 Stars Out Of 5Struggle & pain meet hope in romantic suspenseApril 18, 2014ShannahAge: 25-34Gender: femaleQuality: 4Value: 4Meets Expectations: 4I really cannot get enough of this author. Colleen Coble knows how to write a great story that captivates the reader from beginning to end. I was trapped from the first chapter of the book to the very end. Most of the time, I can kind of figure out what's going to happen or who the villain is in a mystery/suspense story. However, there were so many twists and turns to this story, I didn't figure anything out until the characters did! I loved that about it!
The characters, main and secondary, were very well developed. Lily Donaldson knows heartache and pain. In spite of all she's been through, she still cares deeply for others and has a strong sense of self (even when she doesn't realize it). She has her faults and she's not perfect, so that makes her more real. She is definitely a character one could look up to. Andrew Hawkins (Drew Hawkes) is not your typical self-assured male lead. He questions himself, especially where Lily is concerned, and he has his doubts like any human being does. Even the secondary characters of Emily and Belle were essential to the development of Lily and Drew as people and romantically. I hope to hear more of Belle's story in a later novel!
The message of the book was subtle, but none-the-less important. As Colleen says in her note to her readers, "Struggle and pain aren't something to fear. We all face trials while here on earth. What matters is how we're dealing with the challenges that come our way." God is continually molding us under the refiner's fire. Do we let these challenges make us stronger or do we give the devil the satisfaction of breaking us? Overall, I can't say enough great things about this book. Get your copy today!! -
NanceeGrand Rapids, MichiganAge: Over 65Gender: female4 Stars Out Of 5Suspense filled novelAugust 14, 2016NanceeGrand Rapids, MichiganAge: Over 65Gender: femaleQuality: 4Value: 4Meets Expectations: 4This review was written for Butterfly Palace, Large Print.Butterfly Palace is an early 20th Century romantic suspense that is steaped in murder and political conspiracy. Counterfeit money and greed add to an extremely complex plot set in Austin, Texas, home to the Butterfly Palace.
Numerous characters are portrayed in various situations throughout this complicated novel. With murder, theft, deception and suspicious individuals throughout, no one is exempt from being suspect to any number of questionable incidents. This is a fast paced story that leaves no room for boredom.
I had a bit of difficulty keeping characters straight, particularly male characters. The plot was well told, although a bit disjointed at times which led to some confusion. I had to backtrack a bit to clarify those scenes. The suspense held my attention throughout. It's a good weekend suspense read.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review. All expressed opinions are my own, and no monetary compensation was received for this review. -
Cat4 Stars Out Of 5butterfly palaceMay 24, 2016CatQuality: 4Value: 4Meets Expectations: 5This review was written for Butterfly Palace - eBook.I am enjoying this book and it has a very good story line. it will keep your attention
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An Old Fashioned GirlMinnesotaAge: 25-34Gender: female4 Stars Out Of 5Downton Abbey, thriller-styleFebruary 24, 2014An Old Fashioned GirlMinnesotaAge: 25-34Gender: femaleQuality: 4Value: 4Meets Expectations: 4Serial killers, assassination plots, hidden passageways, obsessions - Colleen Coble's Gilded Age thriller has it all. Lily Donaldson lost her father several years ago in a fire that also killed her fiance's father. In his self-imposed guilt, Andrew left her and she never heard from him again. . . until she got a job as a kitchen maid in a wealthy Austin home, where he turns out to be a guest. However, nothing is as it seems: Drew is hiding his identity, chasing the man who may have set the fire. Strange noises come from the walls. People hide behind layers of deceit. And someone in the city is targeting blonde serving girls as victims of his serial murders.
As a historical novel set in early 1900's - approaching the era of Downton Abbey - there was a fair amount of upstairs-downstairs action, but the rules seemed much more relaxed than one will find in most fiction of the same era, with more informality between masters and servants. Granted, this novel takes place in Austin, Texas, not England or the East Coast, where rules were apt to be more stringent.
While the murders and plots are solved, I do not think everything else is completely wrapped up at the end. I would have liked to see Lily and Drew have more conversations about their poor choices in the past, which would probably benefit their future. Some other things, like baby Hannah and the Marshall family, were neglected at the end, but, as Coble tends to write in series, it is my hope that there will be a second book forthcoming - hopefully about Belle, who turned out to be my favorite character. Such was not the case at first - I was prepared to dislike her intensely - but she has a lot of potential and grew on me, and I would love to see where her story goes. Perhaps somewhere with Nathan . . . (pure speculation on my part).
I had not thought it possible to make butterflies creepy, but Coble managed it. Not terrifying - nothing to give one nightmares - but not exactly blissful little bundles of color fluttering from flower to flower. I liked the tone of the novel - Coble did a good job setting up a mysterious and spooky atmosphere while not losing the feel of the era - everything gilded and pretty on the outside, hiding the dark and sinister underneath. -
Favorite Christian BooksCovina, CAAge: 45-54Gender: Female4 Stars Out Of 5Beautiful Butterflies and a Great MysteryFebruary 10, 2014Favorite Christian BooksCovina, CAAge: 45-54Gender: FemaleQuality: 5Value: 4Meets Expectations: 4Once again Colleen Coble captured my imagination with an wonderful story with mystery and romance. I enjoyed the setting of 1900′s Austin Texas and the Butterfly Palace which added an interesting twist to the story. The characters were interesting as well, I especially enjoyed Lily, for because is she had a tarnished past, something I don't think I've seen in a Coble character before. The unlikely relationship between Lily and Belle fascinated me. I also enjoyed how the ladies worked together with Drew in solving the mystery.
The story itself had several subplots, maybe too many, in that, some of the characters and plots weren't as developed as a Coble story usually is. I did find the story entertaining and enjoyed it a great deal.
This wasn't my favorite Coble, book but was definitely worth reading.
Disclaimer: I would like to thank Thomas Nelson for the opportunity to read and review this book. I was under no obligation other than to give my honest opinion.
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